The last quarterly survey was conducted in November 1977.

A quarterly survey to be released later today by the Bank of Japan is expected to show a decline in business optimism.

Metro-North's quarterly survey found that, on average, commuters saved seven minutes in travel time.

The decrease was the second greatest decline among the 83 metropolitan areas included in the group's quarterly survey.

This quarterly survey has been conducted continuously since 1962.

But quarterly surveys since then show increasing patient satisfaction.

In its previous quarterly survey last May, the economists group found that 63 percent of the respondents expected the next recession next year.

Capital investment rose 7.3 percent from the corresponding period last year, according to the ministry's quarterly survey of corporate profits.

The group's quarterly survey of rates for delinquency - payments that are 90 days late - does not indicate a sharp rise, he said.

The quarterly survey found that executives' expectations for higher sales in the third quarter increased for every industry sector.